Chinese inspectors will visit Argentina from October 25 to the beginning of November to monitor pest control methods in cherry farms and packing facilities that seek to export cherries to that market. The goal of the visit is to formulate the phytosanitary protocol that allows the regional fruit to enter China, a market that generates an important demand and that offers competitive prices for the Patagonian region.

Aníbal Caminiti, the coordinator of the Fine Fruit Program of the Pyme-Adeneu Center and executive manager of the Argentine Chamber of Cherry Growers (CAPCI), said that "there is a political decision between the two presidents (Xi Jinping and Mauricio Macri) for the development of this process." Both countries are working diligently as the goal is to sign the phytosanitary protocol at the G20 summit, Caminiti said.

There is a possibility that, if the deadlines are met, the Chinese market will receive the first shipments of Argentine cherries in the 2018/19 season. The Senasa and the companies that make up the CAPCI are organizing the agenda of the Chinese inspectors that arrive at the end of October. "The Chinese presented a list of quarantine pests and Senasa had let them know if they existed in the area and, in that case, let them know how we control them. The delegation is going to visit the productive regions," he said.

The opening of the Chinese market will be an interesting opportunity for Argentine companies. "There is no doubt that the market has a very elastic demand, because year after year it absorbs more and more fruit," said Caminiti.